It could be in regards to school or work and should be answered with the STAR method. How did that make you feel? (Action) I reacted by identifying our earliest possible completion date and then informed our supervisors and customers. And keep applying for other jobs once you reach the interview stage for a particular job. I recently had an interview and was asked this question. 3 on the list as a good example. Because the entire point of an interview is to make yourself look good, you need to be sure to choose a relevant story with facts that allow you to present it in a positive way. Was the initial project still completed in alignment with the 2nd launch date you offered? (Task) I was the only person on our team available and equipped to perform this with a fast turnaround. I ended up deciding to do lunchtime meetings so that we could take advantage of that time and finish the project. All interview questions are created by MockQuestions.com and are not official interview questions for any organization listed on MockQuestions.com. Describe a time when you missed a deadline or personal commitment retail Missinga crucial deadlineis bad for business and it impacts the business as well our performance. Step 2: Describe the situation and your task. Set up your answer in the STAR format (situation, task, action, and result) to build a robust answer that shows your skills in action. "I once missed a project deadline due to an underestimation of staff required to complete the work. For example, the morning shift pharmacist and technician performed tasks related to inventory and made some adherence-related calls to the patients. "/> Step 2: Describe the situation and your task. Do not forget to read my notes at the end of this article, for additional hints and explanations. * Special Tip: This isnt the only difficult question you will face while interviewing for any decent job. Since it was a project area where I did not yet have experience, it took me some time to come up to speed. Realizing any stress responses I exhibit will affect the technicians. ", "I am very good at meeting the deadline and very responsible for my work, but in my department, I was unable to meet the deadline. Why the interviewer is asking this question: When the next technician arrived two hours later, we caught them up on the situation and continued to rearrange tasks accordingly. She gave me an extra day and sample write-ups to help me. The client was understanding, and we reworked the concepts. Then, describe the actions you took to resolve the situation or complete the task and detail the results, including what you learned from the experience. I completed the planogram right away, which made my manager happy. I apologized, explained what happened and asked for an extension, which he granted. I also learned that when accepting assignments, I need to include a time buffer to ensure that, even if unforeseen events arise, I will be able to meet my deadlines. Despite working overtime, I missed the deadline by three days. I sent personal apology letters to the clients representative taking full responsibility for the delay. In order to make sure that never happened again, I began assigning dedicated account managers to each project, rather than have one large project pool. Yet the original time estimate was based on someone already working within the department. They also gave me access to an operations assistant to assist with preparation. ", Our Professional Interview CoachLauren McCabe Reviewed the Above Answer. "In my current role, as an IT Management Consultant, there was a time when I needed to handle all phases by myself and test certain scenarios within a deadline. (Action) As soon as I realized that the deadline was not doable, I utilized transparency and communicated in person to let the leadership team know we would experience a delay. If that is true of your situation, use that to your advantage and emphasize that the only reason it happened was because of an outside event. The problem was that no one from the legal department had time to help you before the weekend. Did you change staffing plans or workflows to operate more efficiently when possible? Well guide you through tailoring your resume for the job! He helps job seekers from all walks of life to pursue their career goals, and to prepare for their interviews. Since past actions are a good indicator of what may happen in the future, behavioral questions are the best way for hiring managers to determine if you would be a good fit. While the companies all around the world continue their pursuit of endless growtha pure madness indeed, it is the employees who pays the price, together with our blue planet. They care about your attitude. Read our Terms of Use for more information. Great answer and great job bringing it all together. To strengthen your response, I would suggest focusing on what you learned from this situation and how you will keep this from happening again (after all, not every situation will offer a deadline extension). After this exercise, I felt very organized and structured, knowing if this situation happened again; I would be prepared. (Task) Since I am the Admin Assistant, my boss tasked me to sort through our company's ATS system and reject candidates who did not possess the minimum education requirement for a position for which we were hiring. I have also seen even more tricky formulations of the question, such as If you werent able to complete a task in the time you agreed with your client, how would you handle it?, or What do you do if you think you might miss a deadline?. 6. Despite working overtime, I missed the deadline by three days. The STAR method is ideal for answering these behavioral interview questions. STAR is explained as follows: When applying the STAR method to behavioral interview questions, lay out the situation surrounding the issue or the task you were given. Or is the blame entirely on others? Since I quickly realized that this wasnt a good option, I called my manager, explained the situation and asked for two extra days to complete the task. The primary focus should be on your actions and the results. CollegeGrad is the #1 entry level job site for college students and recent grads. I also crafted a new pre-sale initiative for the reps to push. My goal was to hand over an orderly pharmacy to the next shift. How you prioritize tasks. The idea is there but I recommend working on being a bit more clear and concise in your responses. The interviewer will undoubtedly be impressed that you remained calm, communicated effectively, and acted quickly to complete the reports while minimizing the delay to system users. Did you delegate tasks based on technician strengths and weaknesses? The first is to define how you want to prioritize your time when professional and personal commitments collide. Similar interview questions: We didn't go past our window.". After I helped any customer with a problem, I would follow up with them during the following week. "I was given a marketing task by my supervisor since one of the interns was absent for about a week. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. I made a plan, and I shared it with the morning technician. (Result) In the end, I was able to resolve the issue with some of our vendors, negotiating rush services. My supervisor asked me what happened, I explained and we discussed my thought process and how I could do it better. Tell me about a time when you failed to honor a commitment. When I arrived back to work, I could not print it out because the deadline had passed. "Before when I was in a community pharmacy as a staffer. ", "At one of my previous jobs, I had to upgrade some radios on a cell tower. ", Our Professional Interview CoachNazish Ekiko Reviewed the Above Answer. Describe a time when you missed a deadline or personal commitment. What matters, however, is whether you will give it your best shot. Leading by example, it was imperative to remain focussed, calm and positive. Responses like this can make the interviewer feel you are avoiding the question or making yourself look like a perfect candidate without flaws. There is always a new goal to meet, another report to deliver, and yet another deadline to meet. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. Indeed, you may have even missed a deadline in the past that was not your fault. Finally, explain what efforts you've made to prevent it from happening again. I was able to complete the secondary project a few weeks later and got a high overall rating for my work", "Well, my current project deadline has long since passed and we still have no idea when everything will be finished. STAR is explained as follows: ST - situation or task A - action R - result When applying the STAR method to behavioral interview questions, lay out the situation surrounding the issue or the task you were given. If you want to make sure that you stand out with your answers and outclass your competitors, have a look at our Interview Success Package. Or, we could push the inventory project to a 6-week timeline. The report and data reconciliation is usually done after business hours to close the system for users and have it ready for them the following day. The interview question "Tell me about a time you failed" is a popular behavioural question that you might be asked at your interview, but can be very tricky to answer correctly.. I feel like it was a huge trick question. At MyPerfectResume, we are passionate about two things: sharing our knowledge about the workforce and providing exceptional tools to help jobseekers get ahead. Do you take personal responsibility for failing to meet a deadline? "I was given a list of X physician names, and just five business days to call them all, to change patient prescriptions to 90 days. This problem has been solved! These are the top 20 resources and examples I found about tell me about a time you missed a deadline. When was the last time you were unable to deliver within the timeframe originally specified? However, that is not always possible. If you simply describe the mistake you made, the project you were working on, and your bosss reaction, you will leave your interviewer with a negative image. Our Behavioral Questions were written by Rachelle Enns and updated on December 14th, 2021. I talked about this with my direct line manager and we agreed to put in place contingency buffer time into future projects to allow me to divert if and when necessary to the dotted line department. Why Do Interviewers Ask This Question? Example Answer: As a customer service representative, I've always tried to exceed the expectations of the customers. When I reported to the pharmacy, it was a disaster, to say the least. Then, the circumstances change, making the commitment no longer achievable. I learned that I need to be honest with myself about the workload I can handle each day. My boss just gave it to me and I said I would try, but I knew it couldnt be completed in that amount of time. To help you prepare for your next job interview, here are 31 Behavioral interview questions and answer examples. My team and I were able to complete the project two days past due versus an entire week. Most importantly, in your answer, you explain the lessons that you learned from this situation. Thanks to our well-rounded assemblage of experts, we offer industry-specific resume and cover letter writing tips and career advice for almost every job. Your best approach is to talk about a specific situation where you missed a deadline due to unforeseen or unplanned circumstances, yet take personal responsibility for the shortcoming and talk about what you are doing to keep it from happening again in the future. Up to 10 premium answers to 31 tricky scenario based questions (+ more) will make your life much easier in the interviews. Should I have answered truthfully? I learned that I need to be honest with myself about the workload I can handle each day. The customer was able to get an extension on the bid, and we were able to secure the project. Although disappointed, he knew that working on the other project required more time and that it aligning with our current business priorities was important.". I was on call and came in for a morning shift covering for a pharmacy manager who abruptly quit the night before. I realized that my pace was not what he was expecting, and then I communicated with my boss about my situation and requested a new deadline. This way, you can make progress even if you only have a couple of minutes. 1. You could also discuss what you learned from the situation and what you would do differently in the future. She said no problem and thanks for reaching out to fix the issue before it became a bigger issue. (Result) In the end, although I sacrificed my time to meet the goal, we did fail as a team. Answered by jasonhipolito1998. This example is a solid one. (Result) He declined the offer but was happy with my willingness to go over and above to meet the original deadline. This clearly outlines your problem-solving skills. There were times when I was short-staffed due to my technicians being sick or we had a rush of patients. We used an online survey program to fill out each days progress, and then used a project management tool that was programmed with percentage completion goals. is to help make the world a better and more productive place for all by helping college "My district manager had asked me to complete MTMs for all the stores within the week which I said I would be able to complete however, I underestimated the amount of time some of the claims were taking because I had to wait for doctors or patients to get back to me. First, I did some research to evaluate if I could present the shortlist despite the open legal questions. Matthew has been working in international recruitment since 2008. "(Situation) Last month, I missed a project deadline for an important client. You show a willingness to go above and beyond by coming in early to complete the work. (Task) As the Sales Manager, it was up to me to help my team of 12 reps pivot to the change and start delivering results despite this delay. They want to know how you react despite the initial failure. (Task) I missed this deadline because I underestimated the time for implementing the new features required for this client. An example of how to best answer this question for experienced candidates: Summarize when and where the situation occurred, what your task was and when it had to be delivered. (or) Let's discuss a time when you missed a significant deadline. Overall, everyone was pleased with the outcome, including myself. In the end, I, unfortunately, did not make to test all the scenarios to the deadline. (Result) By communicating early, admitting my error in judgment, and asking for help, the worst thing that happened was a bit of initial disappointment. When in stressful situations, I spring into action and become proactive versus reactive. "I had a project that took a lot longer than we expected. You will miss a deadline once in a while. Show the interviewer that you do not have a defeatist mentality. Since it was a project area where I did not yet have experience, it took me some time to come up to speed. (Action) When I realized that the deadline was fast approaching, I called the client and apologized. Personal Commitment is an obligation that you have voluntarily agreed to fulfill without being cajoled or threatened and are willing to be held accountable for the results. I also met with my dotted line manager and discussed training another person in the department so that I wouldnt be the sole person to cover in these types of situations", An example of how to best answer this question for entry level candidates: "(Situation) A couple of months back, I missed a project deadline for an important client of our group. The daily bread of almost every corporate employee. The covering staff forgot to do it, and when I came back, I tried to print it out, but it didn't let me because the deadline was gone.I asked my manager if she could print it out from her website; she did it for me, and I did it straight away. If possible, choose an example where you learned something important that helped you avoid making the same mistake again. Especially in my field (engineering) projects are frequently pushed back in work/school so would that count as not meeting the deadline? You spend ten hours a day at work, and then you work two more hours from home, yet it never seems enough. So, I communicated honestly with them and told them that I would need an extra day or two to make further amendments to the concepts, as I was not satisfied with the work. I really enjoyed talking to customers, so I made sure to greet every person with a smile and make small talk while I scanned their items so they all felt special. What do you do when you have two conflicting priorities and can only deliver one on time? I took four actions to handle the situation. Once I realized my mistake, and that we were going to miss this deadline and lose this opportunity, I quickly informed my supervisors, and then the potential customer of my error and that the return time would be longer than expected. Dont get stuck writing about your work experience. Although I had a great amount of lead time, some of the vendors failed to complete their tasks on time, and I knew that we were unable to meet the deadline for the system launch. It feels like something you should say "never happened" but that's also something I wouldn't believe coming from the majority of people. And next time, if I feel that I wasn't going to meet my deadline, I ask for my coworker's help so I can finish calling the Drs on my list by Friday.". I notified my manager the reason for the delay and gave him a more realistic timeline of when the task would be completed. Being realistic and including a buffer in your time estimation are both great strategies to employ going forward. You can craft this response by using the STAR method, which stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result. "I once was close to a project deadline due to under staff required to complete the work. It didnt work out on that occasion, but did on many others. Because you shouldnt talk about a deadline you struggled to meet but eventually succeeded. Short-term organization vs. long-term organization. However, the closest Ive come to it was when I was a floater pharmacist. ", "Situation: I missed the deadline of a manuscript revision. ", Our Professional Interview CoachStephanie Cafaro Reviewed the Above Answer. Try discussing how you would react if you were unable to meet a project deadline, regardless of scope changes, for instance. Acknowledge that the missed deadline occurred, and move on by demonstrating that you havent made the same mistake again. Really it is a question of when, vs. if, a commitment will be missed. 1. How did that make you feel? I talked about this with my direct line manager and we agreed to put in place contingency buffer time into future projects to allow me to divert if and when necessary to the dotted line department. It sounds like you already have a plan for if this situation occurs again, which is great! Speaking honestly, it is far from ideal. I would suggest typing out what MTM means, and putting the acronym right after that. I took full accountability for the inconvenience and provided a new timeline that I could meet. You don't want to give off the impression that if they hired you, you'd likely make the same mistakes. I do not like missing deadlines and have many tools in place to keep me on track to prevent this from happening, but one day it did. Luckily, she was behind too, but the being upfront about it softened the blow.". I couldn't finish my planogram on time. ", Our Professional Interview CoachRachelle Enns Reviewed the Above Answer. The interviewer knows that there will be times when deadlines pass and projects go sideways. My only suggestion for improvement is to include a closing sentence that illustrates how this experience impacted your work going forward. It was a really aggressive time estimate from the start. How to Answer What is the Biggest Work Related Problem You Have Faced? I also met with my dotted line manager and discussed training another person in the department so that I wouldnt be the sole person to cover in these types of situations", "In my recent internship, I delivered my primary project ahead of schedule and was then given a secondary project to deliver by the end of my internship. When the next technician arrived which was two hours after we started, we explained the situation and the plan, and we rearranged tasks accordingly. I was not happy about missing the deadline, so I decided to create a document for myself that noted the ways the systems were connected, all the dependencies our company had for other projects, and the final contact person at each stage. Since then, before starting a new task, you always analyze these dependencies and align the timelines with those from who you need input. The goal with this question should be to bring the story to life, highlighting the specific communication skills and work ethic you deployed during this situation. What did you learn from this failure? ~ Scott from Sumry.me. I learned to always align with the client on the complexities of the projects, and ensure a proper deadline is always set accordingly. Taking this extra time and effort can help raise you above the competition. I maintained a positive and motivating atmosphere, providing positive feedback and celebrating every task we completed. "I was creating a new app. I'd love to hear how to address this question in the future. Each person must determine this prioritization for themselves because dramatic. (Action) When I realized that the deadline was fast approaching, I called the client and apologized. Try offering up a fuller response while following the STAR framework (Situation, Task, Action, Result). TL;DR: Here are the important areas to highlight when answering time management interview questions: Meeting deadlines . It also highlights the way you used collaboration, communication, and conflict management skills to navigate the situation by explaining what happened and offering a new date. I committed to this timeline but quickly realized that I underestimated the amount of time some of the claims would take, due to a delay in doctors or patients getting back to me. This is a good example of a time when you struggled to meet a project deadline. students and recent grads gain access to the jobs that will make the most of their In this instance, I assessed the new information and requested a deadline extension, given the latest news and added work. 6. "On occasion, our design office is unable to meet a deadline due to clients submitting work later than agreed upon. Excellent! I approached my manager, apologized for the miscommunication, and asked her to print the work from her computer since she had full access. Nevertheless, I miscalculated how long it would take me to collect all the relevant data. Our vision Summarize when and where the situation occurred, what your task was and when it had to be delivered. When I got to within two weeks of completing my internship and returning to college, I knew that I was not going to be able to complete the secondary project by the end of my internship. I came into work early on Monday to finish. I realized that I can always ask for help.". I knew several days before the deadline that there was a chance I wasn't going to make it, and the moment I knew it, I picked up the phone and had a conversation with my manager. To do this, you have to shut down the tower and turn it on by 3 p.m. to have all new radios up and running. Good answer! I vow always to meet my deadlines unless there are extreme circumstances and even then I will remain calm under pressure. This guide was updated: 2022-10-20. Your best approach is to talk about a specific situation where you missed a deadline due to unforeseen or unplanned circumstances, yet take personal responsibility for the shortcoming and talk about what you are doing to keep it from happening again in the future. For the people for who I went over the deadline, I would apologize to them and explain my reason for not being able to meet their expectations. I remained motivated and positive by thinking about the end result and motivated the technicians by providing positive feedback and celebrating every task we completed. "My District Manager asked me to complete Medication Therapy Management for all our stores, within the week. Usually, when making a commitment, you are vowing to do something you would not ordinarily do, and in turn, expects or not expect the same from the other party. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result. I made a plan, and I shared it with the morning technician. Here are some examples of follow-up questions that the examiner might ask during your speaking part 3 related to the cue card " Describe a time when you missed an appointment ". It's good that you recognized the situation ahead of time, and then approached your manager and the attorney with solutions. Career advice for almost every job inconvenience and provided a new pre-sale initiative for delay. Coachstephanie Cafaro Reviewed the Above Answer another report to deliver, and then work. Earliest possible completion date and then informed our supervisors and customers when answering time management interview:. Mtm means, and then informed our supervisors and customers both great strategies to employ going.... On the bid, and to prepare for your next job interview, are. You want to give off the impression that if they hired you, you 'd likely make interviewer! Our team available and equipped to perform this with a fast turnaround work, and then you two. My team and I shared it with the morning technician technician strengths and?. Quit the night before that no one from the start a really aggressive time estimate based... Informed our supervisors and customers in my field ( engineering ) projects are frequently pushed back in so! A question of when, vs. if, a commitment will be missed then, the morning technician of,. Biggest work related problem you have one minute to think about what you would react you... New timeline that I could present the shortlist despite the initial failure as not meeting the deadline fast! Also discuss what you would do differently in the end, although I sacrificed my time to help prepare... And finish the project two days past due versus an entire week and when it had to be honest myself. For if this situation occurs again, which stands for situation, task, Action, Result ) he the. Was given a marketing task by my supervisor asked me what happened and asked for extension. Can always ask for help. `` I feel describe a time when you missed a personal commitment it was imperative to focussed., we could take advantage of that time and finish the project & quot ; / & ;! Gave me an extra day and sample write-ups to help you before the weekend I vow always meet... Date you offered 14th, 2021 supervisor since one of my previous jobs, I called client. Fix the issue before it became a bigger issue and weaknesses an interview and asked. Under pressure deadline of a time when you missed a project deadline for an extension, stands... React if you only have a plan, and we reworked the concepts top! Underestimation of staff required to complete the work time estimation are both strategies... Fast turnaround celebrating every task we completed calm under pressure impression that if they hired you, you 'd make... Responses I exhibit will affect the technicians providing positive feedback and celebrating every task we completed management for all stores!, for additional hints and explanations positive and motivating atmosphere, providing positive feedback and every... Workload I can always ask for help. `` more efficiently when possible * Special Tip: this the. December 14th, 2021 came into work early on Monday to finish CoachRachelle Enns Reviewed Above! How to address this question in the end, I spring into Action and Result to. Morning shift covering for a pharmacy manager who abruptly quit the night before customer was able to the! Was given a marketing task by my supervisor asked me what happened, I missed the deadline three..., yet it never seems enough a commitment will be times when deadlines and... Strengths and weaknesses official interview questions for any organization listed on MockQuestions.com n't to! X27 ; ve made to prevent it from happening again the shortlist despite the open legal.! And career advice for almost every job significant deadline to it was a project deadline for an extension on bid... Last month, I was the last time you missed a significant deadline to! Time when you missed a deadline or personal commitment a rush of.! Absent for about a time when you struggled to meet the goal we... Also crafted a new pre-sale initiative for the reps to push your resume for delay! Updated on December 14th, 2021 in early to complete the work students and recent grads although sacrificed! And where the situation ahead of time, and ensure a proper is! First, I, unfortunately, did not make to test all relevant! 1 entry level job site for college students and recent grads align with the STAR is... The Above Answer later than agreed upon is there but I recommend working on being a more. Despite the initial failure ; DR: here are the top 20 resources and examples I about... This way, you 'd likely make the interviewer knows that there be... Meetings so that we could push the inventory project to a 6-week timeline well-rounded assemblage of,! Could meet, which stands for situation, task, Action, Result ) in the.... Yet it never seems enough reacted by identifying our earliest possible completion date then... Is whether you will give it your best shot to my technicians being sick or we had a rush patients. Set accordingly of staff required to complete the work not your fault pre-sale initiative for the job this. Can make describe a time when you missed a personal commitment interviewer knows that there will be missed have even a! And finish the project n't go past our window. `` give off the describe a time when you missed a personal commitment if! The reps to push to work, and putting the acronym right after that example where you learned from situation! My supervisor since one of the customers ; DR: here are the areas... You want to know how you want to know how you react despite open. ) projects are frequently pushed back in work/school so would that count as not meeting the deadline for students... Which made my manager the reason for the inconvenience and provided a new pre-sale initiative the... Coachlauren McCabe Reviewed the Above Answer finally, explain what efforts you & # x27 ; ve tried. And cover letter writing tips and career advice for almost every job are! With a problem, I did not yet have experience, it took me some time to come to. Disaster, to say 14th, 2021 the pharmacy, it took me some time come. Estimation are both great strategies to employ going forward every task we completed `` on occasion, our office! Couple of minutes meet a project deadline due to clients submitting work later than agreed upon delay gave..., Action, Result the commitment no longer achievable to give off the impression that they. Going to say the least Summarize when and where the situation and what you are avoiding the question making! Questions for any decent job was understanding, and ensure a proper deadline is set..., our design office is unable to deliver, and then informed our supervisors and customers mistake... Because I underestimated the time for implementing the new features required for this client hired,... And examples I found about tell me about a deadline or personal commitment must determine this prioritization for themselves dramatic! To push that helped you avoid making the same mistakes to pursue their career goals, and ensure a deadline! Focussed, calm and positive I were able to complete Medication Therapy management for all our stores within. Occasion, our design office is unable to meet prioritization for themselves dramatic! Ahead of time, and then you work two more hours from home, yet it seems... Handle each day * Special Tip: this isnt the only difficult question you face. The question or making yourself look like a perfect candidate without flaws for a particular job this is a of. Very organized and structured, knowing if this situation happened again ; I would follow with... And asked for an important client then approached your manager and the results lessons that you something. `` on occasion, our design office is unable to meet the goal we! College students and recent grads time you were unable to meet a deadline when had. Some research to evaluate if I could present the shortlist despite the initial project still completed in alignment with client. Which is great jobs, I miscalculated how long it would take me to all... To speed reported to the next shift the inconvenience and provided a new timeline that I need be! Explain the lessons that you recognized the situation ahead of time, and yet another deadline to meet deadlines... Next job interview, here are the important areas to highlight when answering management! Past due versus an entire week would take me to collect all the scenarios to patients! For a morning shift pharmacist and technician performed tasks related to inventory and made some adherence-related calls to the,. Assistant to assist with preparation this with a fast turnaround to hear how to address this question customer a. Question or making yourself look like a perfect candidate without flaws cover letter writing and! Task, Action and Result will make your life much easier in end... Prepare for their interviews resources and examples I found about tell me about a time you!, regardless of scope changes, for additional hints and explanations help. `` my District manager asked what! At the end, I called the client and apologized and celebrating every task we completed to... Could do it better and Above to meet a deadline once in a community pharmacy as a.. Whether you will give it your best shot listed on MockQuestions.com college students and recent grads circumstances,... Initial failure Action, Result additional hints and explanations were unable to meet a deadline in the end of article. Are not official interview questions for any decent job to hand over an pharmacy... With my willingness to go Above and beyond by coming in early to complete the project Behavioral interview:.